Deck Collapse Injures Two During Party

Two people were injured when a deck collapsed during a house party in East Setauket. CBS News reported that 400 people — mostly students at Stony Brook University — attended a party at the house to celebrate “move-in day.” It was estimated that as many as 50 people were on the 10-foot-high deck when it collapsed on August 26, 2016, at 11 p.m.

Of the two who were injured, one had a broken leg and the other suffered abrasions. Police were called to the scene after a neighbor complained about the noise and the number of cars parked in front of the house.

Two people were injured when a deck collapsed during a house party in East Setauket. CBS News reported that 400 people — mostly students at Stony Brook University — attended a party at the house to celebrate “move-in day.” It was estimated that as many as 50 people were on the 10-foot-high deck when it collapsed on August 26, 2016, at 11 p.m.

Of the two who were injured, one had a broken leg and the other suffered abrasions. Police were called to the scene after a neighbor complained about the noise and the number of cars parked in front of the house.

Newsday reported that Brookhaven Town officials cited the house’s landlord for serious code violations, including not having smoke or carbon monoxide detectors installed, illegal bedroom door locks, broken windows and making a den into a bedroom. The landlord could face fines of up to $18,000. Fire officials found that, although it was structurally sound, the deck was not properly bolted to the house.

In addition, the three tenants at the house were cited by Suffolk County police for violating the social host law, since some of those attending the party were under drinking age.

In this fact pattern, the injured parties have a personal injury claim and may be entitled to a large cash award.  In addition, the landlord owner must answer criminal charges.

Our office handles Personal Injury cases and Town Violation Defenses.  We have obtained significant recoveries for tenants in similar cases.  In addition, Mr. McGuire just authored an article which was published in the Suffolk Law Journal instructing lawyers on how to handle these types of cases.

Having a comprehensive knowledge of both sides of these kinds of cases makes our office uniquely qualified to handle these types of matters.

If you have suffered a serious fall or injury at someone else’s residence, or if you have been charged with a town violation, consider contacting us as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and remedies.  Call the personal injury and criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of McGuire & Peláez, P.C. today at (631) 348-1702.